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(No Mod r. 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 G. H. BENJAMIN.

PIPE GQUPLING Patented Jan. 10, 1888.

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' G. H. BENJAMIN.

PIPE COUPLING No. 376,061. Patented Jan. 10, 1888.

lxa tmeooao UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. BENJAMIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PIPE-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 376,061, dated January 10, 1858.

' Application filed May 13, 188 Serial No. 238,021. (No model.) i

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, GEORGE H. BENJAMIN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful I|n-' provements in Pipe-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pipe-couplings of the class in which the two parts or half-coup lings areidentical in construction and adapted to be automatically separable when submitted to any strains other than those due to the ordinary exigencies of use.

My invention further relates to and has for its object an automatically-separable coupling,

adapted to transmit air, steam, gases, or other bodies, hot or cold, and to utilize the pressure of such bodies Within the coupling to pack and make a tightjoint between the two parts of the coupling.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate myinvention, similar letters of reference indicate like parts. V

Figure 1 is a side elevation'of my improved coupling. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4 4. of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top view. Fig. 6 is an end view showing the end of the hooked latchengaging with the sleeve, and Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a plan and section of one of the packing-rings.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the body ofa half-coupling made from metal, and either wrought or cast, as desired, and provided with an enlarged end or flange, B, into which is screwed ahead, 0. The face or abutting end D of the halfcoupling is plain, and adjacent to the face'and on the interior of the half-coupling is theseat E, shaped as the frustum of a cone. WVithin the half-coupling, and resting upon the seat E, are the annular conical packing-rings F G. Therings F G are divided from their periphery to their central pOrtopenings, H, Figs. 7 and 8that is to say, a portion, l, of the body of the rings is removed, so as to allow the rings to contract'their diameter, and so move along the packing-seat E when influenced by the pressare of thebody transmitted through the coupling. When the rings are placed on the packing-seat, the openings or divisions I of the hold the rings F G in place when the halfcouplings are separated, or when no body is transmitted through the coupling, and hence no pressure exerted upon the rings. The

spring or springs J are, however, 'unessential,

and may be dispensed with. g I

On one side of the body of the half-coupling, and riveted thereto or formed integrally therewith, is the stud K, providedwith inclined faces L M. Arranged on the opposite side of the half-coupling is a double stud, N, which forms a bearing for and on which is pivoted a hooked latch, 0. ,One end of thelatch is bifurcated to form the hooks P Q, Fig. 6, and is likewise provided with the depending portion or tongue R,located between the hooks P Q. The other end of the latch has the handle S.

lis a bent spring, which bears at one end upon the body of the half-coupling and at the other end upon the under side of the handle, thereby serving to elevate the handle and depress the hooks P Q.

U is a tubular sleeve arranged over the body and flange of the halfcoupling, and adapted to be longitudinally movable thereon.

The sleeve U is provided with the vertical portion, which is cut away opposite the stud K. Interposed. between the outer face of the vertical portion of the flange B andinner face of the vertical portion of the sleeve U are the helical springs V. Four of such springs are shown in the drawings, Fig. 4, and serve the purpose of defining the position of the sleeve relative to theend of the half-coupling and stud K, and by the compressibility of the springs allow the sleeve to be moved forward toward the point ofjunction of the half-coupling when acted upon by the hooked latches O.

The operation of my improved coupling is as follows: When'it is desired to connect the half-coupling, the handles of the hooked latches are depressed and the faces D brought into apposition. The latches are then released, when the hooksPQwill lap over and bear upon the end of the sleeves U. The depending porions or tongues R of the latch O are thus brought in front of the studs K. Should the coupling be subjected to any unusual strain tending to draw it apartas by the parting of two cars of a trainthe sleeves are moved by the latches toward the junction of the halfcoupling. The movement of the latches brings the tongues Ragainst the studs K, andby reason of the inclined face M the latches are raised until the hooks 1? Q clear the face of the sleeves,when the coupling falls apart. The packing of the coupling at thejunetion of the half coupling is effected by means of the conical rings, which are advanced by the pressure of the body transmitted through the coupling untilthe ringsF arein contact, the practical effect being to produce an absolutely tightjoint.

Fig. 1 shows the faces of the rings F in contact. The extent to which the ringsF maybe advanced beyond the faces D of the half-couplings can be regulated by previously determining the width of the divisions I in the packing-rings F G.

Ido notwish toliniitniyselfto the precise construction shown in the drawings and described in the specification, as it will be obvious that various modifications may be made in the device without departing from the intent of my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. A two-part coupling, the parts of which are automatically detachable under strain and provided with axial port-openings, packingrings in said openings, latches pivoted to the body of the coupling, and longitudinally-movable sleeves with which said latches engage, and studs under said sleeves, by reason of which said latches are disengaged, substantially as described.

2. In a two-part coupling, the combination, with a loose sleeve on one part, of a stud under said sleeve and a hooked and tongned latch pivoted to the other part, substantially as described.

3. In a two-part coupling, the combination, with a loose sleeve on one part, one end of which projects over said sleeve and stud, of a stud under said sleeve, a latch pivoted to the other part, and a spring under the handle of said latch, substantially as described.

4. In a two-part coupling, the combination, with a loose sleeve on one part, of aspring under said sleeve, a stud under said sleeve, and alatch'pivoted to the other part and engaging said sleeve, substantially as described.

5. Ina half-coupling, the combination, with the body thereof, of alatch pivoted to one side of the body, a stud provided with inclined faces, and a loose sleeve provided with a slot to allow passage of said stud, substantially as described.

GEO. H. BENJAMIN.

\Vitnesses:

TRAJANOLY TORRES, JAMES F. FOGERTY. 

